Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-25
CHAPTER II.
But l was happy oncel
Fortunate such childrenl
SHIRLEY.

They were wholesome pretty children, the
five whom "General Shirley marshaled for the
home camp at sunset. Tom was sturdy,
broad shouldered lad-a frank, honest fellow.
They called him the governor.
Percy was little blue eyed lad, who took
a childish interest in all living creatures. He
studied the ways of birds and butterflies. He
prisoned shining winged beetles and watched
their efforts to escape He peered into snake
holes, and birds nests, and rabbit burrows
His mother called hlm her little Paul Pry.
Then came Brownie a dancing sunbeam of
a creature, who seemed good for nothing but
getting into mischief. She was the most
thoughtless child of the six, and the most I'M
lucky. a tangle of dark curls covered her
head and ever and anon tumbled down over
her wide brown eyes She was contnuallyin
trouble, always drawing on the rest for help
and sympathy.
"Whatever will become of Brownie," said
their mother.
whatever will become of the whole pack"
said their father lyon can't teach them all
any longer They ought to be in school this
day, every little pest of them. But where to
send them don't know. We can't let them
away from home, can Wen
Their mother shook her head. 1t would
have been like sending part of herself away.
~ know what to do with 'em!" cried little
Percy "Senl 'em to the new school teacher.
He plays the Star Spangled Banner on the
VIOLIN and has glass case full of butterflies
and humming birds
"And the boys say he goes fishing with
them. and shows them how to bait a hook
better than old Pete himself can do it. He's
a good teacher" chimed in Tom
"And he shows the girls how to make pict-
ures, and he picks the children up when they
get knocked over in the mud, lsped Brownie.
"They say he was educated over the sea,
and that he knows Latin and Greek. Yes,
and he can write poetry, too They never
had a teacher here before who could write
poetry"
1t was a softer voice that spoke this time
a voice that had a sweet, thrilling ring. 1t
was Shirley who spoke.
Shirley was the flower and the star of them
all.
Older by several years than any of the
Others she exercised remarkable influence
over them Indeed among the children they
knew, she was the head and the leader Not
that she seemed old and overgrave for her
years. No sweeter, SUMMER child alive than
She. Her merry, ripping laughter was like
the music of bird song. Her hair was light
brown. She wore it in the fashion Of the
time in long heavy braids. She was tall and
strong for her years, with straight, black eye
brows, and large beautiful eyes, black at
night and clear bright gray in the daytime.
Wonderful eyes they We're, rejecting, as face
answers to face in the glass, the many sided
nature of the soul within. Now they flashed
with scoln and anger, like fire from n flint;
again they were tender and peary as the dew
drop in the heart of a lily Sometimes an
intensely seeing, rapt look lay in them, as
though all the things that are had been some
how burned away in the white fire of
thought, and this child looked far beyond and
saw centuries into the future, and the things
that are to be. They We're strangely mag
netic too. She drew whom she chose toward
her by "a look
"When Shirley looks at you you must
come" said Brownie.
She was n very child in some respects, inno-
cent and trusting, believing everything that
was told her, as if she had been years old
As a scholar she was the pride of her parents
and the prodigy of the neighborhood All
studies came alike to her; she was easily mas
ter in them all. In practical matters it was
the same. Whatever work needed to be done,
such as little country maidens were won't to
perform, her quick, strong hands could ac-
complish more rapidly than another. Her
light, patient feet were always ready to run
merrily at her mothers call. Shirley soothed
the babies and mcnded their little garments;
Shirley weeded the garden and gathered in
the vegetables, and she sang about her work
like redbird. She could swim, row a boat
and ride a wild colt and among all the chill
dren was none so fleet Of foot as she, this
strong, bright, happy girl.
"Our Shirley's as good as n boy" said Tom.
"She can do everything There never was a
girl like her"
A girl who was as good as a hoy for
"pard" and yet could make even boys stand
back when she felt like there was a supe-
rior being, indeed,
How they loved her, father and mother
brothers and sisters She ilolizel them too,
she reveled in her affections. If whatever
she undertook she could accomplish better
than other children, so her child friends felt
somehow, that Shirley could love them more
than other people could Her parents knew
that Shirley would have gone through fire for
them. Hers was a nature Of flame and steel
and crystal, and yet on one side Of it of pearly
tenderness and gentleness, too.
An uncommon destiny was predicted for
the child. Her remarkable beauty attracted
attention from all. To the fine, high bred
features, brilliant eyes and straight, black
eyebrows, was added a complexion rose tinted
and radiant With every passing emotion
the exquisite color came and went in her cheek